Concealed flap fastener



Jan. 7, 1941. RM. KERR I 2,227,722

I CONCEALED FLAP FASTENER Filed March 22, 1958 WITNE55 INVENTORQPatented Jan. 7, 1941 PATENT OFFICE 'CONCEALED FLAP FASTENER Robert M.Kerr, Louisville, Ky.

Application March 22,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in flap fasteners, particularlyuseful in fastening unsealed envelopes and it is primarily intended totake the place of metal clasps, string and button ties and other typesof fasteners, now extensively used on open end envelopes.

Through the use of my fasteners, the passage of envelopes equippedtherewith, through the mails will be facilitated, because of theconcealed fastener which permits the flap to lie securely fastenedagainst the wall of the envelope, without projections of any kind tocatch against other packages in the mail.

While my concealed flap fastener is particularly useful in fastening theflaps of unsealed open end envelopes, it can be used advantageously onother types of envelopes, also on folders and on any other article whichemploys a flap folded over the open side of the article.

Furthermore, envelopes equipped with my fasteners will present a neat,clean cut appearance, and they can be manufactured at a substantialsaving in cost as compared with those equipped with metal fasteners,string and button and other types of fiap fasteners, now generally used.

The device by which, and the manner in which, I attain these ends ispresently to be described.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 represents an ordinary open end envelope with flap open andextended, and showing the tongue or fastener affixed thereto by means ofa further extended portion of the flap being bent back and affixed byadhesive to the inner wall of the flap in such manner as to reinforcethe flap and also to provide a fastening for the free and extendedportion comprising the tongue or fastener. By this arrangement, theentire envelope, the flap and the tongue or fastener are of one piececonstruction.

Figure 2 represents the same type of open end envelope with the flapopen and extended, but having a portion of the tongue or fastenerafiixed to the inner wall of the flap by pasting adhesive and a freeportion of the same comprising the extended tongue or fastener. Thisconstitutes two piececonstruction and is simply another means forsecuring the tongue or fastener to the flap alternative to the meansemployed for the same purpose as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a portion of the envelope ofFig. 1, showing the tongue or fastener bent down in such manner as to beeasily inserted into the slot shown below in the wall of the envelope.

Figure 4 represents a portion of an envelope 1938, Serial No, 197,444

of either form, shown with the flap closed as it would appear to theeye-when the envelope is closed and the tongue or fastener is insertedinto the slot, part of the tongue or fastener being concealed beneaththe closed flap and the remaining portion of the tongue or fastenerbeingconcealed in the inside of the envelope, after it has been passedthrough the slot, which slot is placed in position directly underneaththe closed flap by which it is completely concealed.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate different parts andfeatures of the drawing.

In the drawing, reference is now to be had to Figure 1 in which theletter A represents the outer wall of an ordinary open end envelope. Theletters BB show portions of the flap of the envelope integral with theportion C and the portion D. C being the inner wall of the flap and Dbeing the free portion. The portions B-B have been bent back and affixedby adhesives to the portion C leaving the portion D unaflixed byadhesives and free from the lines G at which point the tongue orfastener is indented or scored to facilitate bending of the same foreasy insertion through the slot E into the body of the envelope A. Thebroken line F represents a ring of paper or other material affixed tothe inner wall of the envelope to reinforce the slot.

Under this arrangement, the entire envelope, including the flap, thereinforcement of the same and the free portion constituting the tongueor fastener are all in one piece.

In Figure 2, the letter A represents the outer wall of an ordinary openend envelope. The letter B represents a separate portion of paper, cardboard, combined paper and fabric, multiple ply paper or any suitablematerial, the same being affixed by adhesive to the inner wall of theflap C with an extended portion D constituting the tongue or fastenerfree from the line of indentation orscoring G adapted to bend along thelines G for easy insertion through the slot E into the body of theenvelope A. The broken lines F represent a ring of paper or othermaterial affixed to the inner wall of the envelope to reinforce theslot.

Under this arrangement, the use and purpose of the tongue or fastener isidentical with the arrangement shown in Figure 1 except that the tongueand fastener is separate and must be affixed to the flap by a properadhesive, requiring two-piece construction.

Figures 3 and 4 have been described heretofore method of inserting thetongue or fastener into 20 fully employed within the spirit of myinvention.

the slot and the concealed state of the tongue or fastener after theflap is closed.

In closing the envelope, it is a very simple matter to direct thefastener through the slot and into the envelope, where it is firmly andsecurely established as a secure fastening for the flap of the envelope.The flap, so fastened, can be readily and easily opened for postalinspection and when so opened, it can be reclosed without mutilation ofany part'of the flap, envelope or fastener.

While the foregoing forms and materials mentioned in the descriptionrelating thereto, are the preferable forms of my invention, I do notdesire to be confined to the several forms of thetongue or fastener, orto the type of envelope described, but to any other form or forms, inwhich and through which, the use of my concealed tongue and fastener andmy concealed slot may be use- Having thus described my invention so thatone skilled in the art appertaining thereto may make and use it, Iclaim:

In a concealed flap fastener for an unsealed envelope or other likearticle having a flap folding over the opening thereto, a tongue orfastener, firmly affixed by adhesives or other suitable means to theinside surface of the said flap; said tongue or fastener being of singleply or multiple ply construction, comprising paper, card board or othersuitable material; said tongue or fastener having a line of indentationor scoring transversely across its surface at a point of separationbetween an affixed portion and a free, ungummed and extended portion ofthe said tongue or fastener; said line of indentation or scoring beingadjacent to, and parallel with the lower edge of the said flap; saidline of indentation or scoring being designed to act as a hinge tofacilitate easy and repeated bending of the said tongue or fastener,substantially as described.

. ROBT. M. KERR.

